Whats the etiquitte for CVs these days? Anyone in HR?

[filtered]

Right after a big gap i am looking for work but my CV looks awful - whats the current trend re italics fonts size etc, do you work in HR could you advise me?,thanks

As far as I know, the current trend is for something quite plain and simple.

Name and contact number should be prominent (I put them in the Header so that they pull through to all pages)

Other than that:
Personal statement / summary
Work experience
Education
Other relevant details
Contact details (should include all current communication methods such as mobile and e-mail)

That's it. Shouldn't run past 2 pages.

Depending on what sector you are going for, maybe a photo would be suitable (I'm an industrial chemist and it's not done in my industry but a friend who is an event organiser would find it strange to get a CV that doesn't have photo attachment)

I'm not in HR but do a fair bit of shortlisting for jobs.

Most CVs I see these days have a brief personal statement at the top, basic pesonal info and contact details next, then work reverse chronologically back through your career and education.

I think most people sorting CVs find sans serif fonts easier to read (Arial, Helvetica, Gill Sans), and would expect to see emphasis such as bolding or italicising confined to headings, not body text. That's certainly my feeling!

The other thing is whether to include a photo. I think if you are returning to the corporate sector in a managerial role it is now expected. I work in the public sector and it tends only to be European applicants who routinely include one on their CV.

Good luck, hope someone in HR can also give you some good tips

personal statemtne? - not quite sure as i dont think

i want a job with fixed Hours to be able to pick up the kids? but i dont suppose thats what they want?

I think more the sort of thing

Filtered has experience in x y z sectors and a b c skills (state if you have had recent training to update yourself etc). Following a career break for family reasons filtered is now looking to re-enter the industry.

The introductory personal statement is the first thing they see, so you are selling your strong points. It's not the place to state the unavoidable constraints on your time etc

see this recent thread with tips on cvs.

I would never advise including a photo as decisions on whether to interview you should be based on the content of your cv not what you look like.

so you don't think failing to include a photo will prejudice some recruiters then flowery?
I work in the public sector so it is neither asked for nor expected thank God, but I thought that the corporate sector these days did expect photo on CV

Not that I've come across, no. In the unlikely event that they want one, they will ask anyway.

I don't see how any recruiter could need one really. When someone sends their cv in you've not met them yet so there's no need to remember what they look like. The only thing you could do with a photo is make judgements about someone's appearance, (which could of course include their race).

The only situation I can see where it could possibly add any value is after cv stage, if you are attending a selection centre for example, where they are seeing loads of candidates and might want to be reminded who everyone is.

And in the very unlikely event that a recruiter disregards you simply because you didn't send a picture, you don't want to work for them anyway!

I work for a large FTSE 100 company and am starting to be involved in recruitment in my team. So far, have never seen a cv around my business with a photo and I think it would be seen as unethical in certain circumstances - in the same way that you do not include age or ethnic origin.

There may be ceratin sectors where it is expected, but certinly not the norm.

I posted this in the other CV thread: hope it helps.

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Someone I know who swears his CV has "never let him down" has two pages and it goes:

PERSONAL PROFILE

(2-line summary of career)

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Worked as senior so-and-so
Instigated lah-di-dah-di-dah
Actively promoted doo-dah
Responsible for setting up major f-off blahblah
Created so-and-so...
etc.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Title and one-line desc. of jobs, in reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent first)

EDUCATION & TRAINING
(again, most recent first)

OTHER
(e.g. driving licence & any other skills)

I agree with UnquietDad..

(BTW, I meant a personal profile - perhaps statement was the wrong word.... Just a cople of sentences on your strongest points and what sort of role you are looking for. No need to mention anything about hours!)

I know this sounds silly - but I really hate badly spelled and punctuated CV's

Also lots of colors/fonts/little pictures - I guess it's because I get lots of CV's from young girls - but they drive me crazy

I also got a handwritten letter from someone (who was in her 30's )who put little circles as the dots for i's - even on capital I's

My spelling and grammar is poor so if I send something out I get at least 2 people to check it

Agree with sans serif font - it's meant to be easiest to read. And definitely no faffing about with pictures or decorations or borders - black ink, white paper, clean and clear and professional.